Grain-elevator



(No Model.) V

N. G. SIMONDS.

- GRAIN ELEVATOR- No. 281,572 I Patented Ju1y 17, 1883.

WITNESSES INIVENTDR I NILTEI) STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-SIXTH TO MASSACHUSETTS.

GRAlN-EL'EVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 281,572, dated July 17, 1883.

I Application filed May 15. 1882. Renewed April 13, 1883. (No nvogiel.)

To all whom it Jnay concern:

Be it knownthat I, NATHANIEL G. Snuouns,

of Charlestown, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new 5 and useful Improvement in Grain-Elevators,

of which the following .is'a specification.

My invention relates to an improved means of elevating grain from cars, vessels, or other receptacle into a building at 7 1y required height,- and the invention consists in the employment of two spirally-flanged shafts arranged within tubesone of which is horizontal and the other vertical-and connected together so that they may be arranged at a right angle, or any other angle, if desired, and used in connection with a rotary fan, by which I combine the elevating property of the screw with an air-exhaust. for creating a vacuum. Provision is also made for shutting off the supply of grain in case the tubes should become packed, and also for preventing the escape of p the grain from the tubes.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through an apparatus constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the fan. Fig i is a section. taken on line it ofFig. 1.

shafts. g p

A represents an adjustable vertical tube, which is connected to the fixed horizontal tube A by means of the hinge a and shaft E, so that it can be adjusted to any desired position for el cvatin g grain, and is provided with a hinged hood, I), which prevents the entrance, or escape of air to or from the tubes. \Vithin the tubes A A are fitted shafts (3 O, carrying the spiral flanges B B. At the lower end of the shaft C is fixeda screw-propeller, S, which acts directly to elevate the grain at the commencement. The spiral flange in the vertical tube is of a less pitch than that of the horizontal tube. v v

Above and between the two portions'of the horizontal tubes A A is arranged a fan-blower,

' J, similar to that shown in Patent N 0. 169,662,

granted to me November 9, 1875, which is caused to rotate from any suitable motive powthe grain from passing outof the tube.

' Fig. 5=shows the connection of the vertical and horizontal and its place supplied by a cap,

er by-a belt passing over the pulley K 011 one end of the shaft k of the fan. The other end of the shaft It also carries a pulley, I, over which the belt H passes, which connnunieates motion to the shafts O 0 through pulley G, shaft E, and bevel-gearing D c c. To the lower portion of the vertical tubeA is fitted a hopper, F, through which the grain to be elevated may be passed to the lower end of the screw B. This hopper is provided with a valve, f, which is kept closed by means of a spring, 7', but which will yield with the weight of the grain in the hopper F when the same is being fed, and will close should the grain be come tightly packed in the tubes, and 'pre vent the grain being forced out at the hopper, 6 5'- thus allowing the screw to free itself, which being accomplished the valve f will again open, when the feed is continued. When the ma chine stops, the grain in the tube A will fall and close the valves f f, which will prevent The. end of the tube A is also provided with a short piece of tube, H, fittedwith a valve, f, and spring 5/, like and operating in the same manner as the valvef in the hopper F, before dc- 7 5 scribed, the object of this arrangement being that the apparatus can feed itself from a car, vessel, orother place, as desired. Either one or both of these fced-inlets may be employed on the same apparatus. When the grain is fed through tube H the hopper Finay'be removed and a cap is also placed on the lower end of the tube H when the latter is not in use.

In orderto prevent the grain going into the 8 5 gears I provide a slide, a, attached to a thin metal plate connected to the shaft 0, so that in changing the angle of the tube A the slide will be moved so as to close the opening. The cylinder inclosing the fan is extended underncath, as shown at m, Fig; 1, and is set very near to the end of the fan, so as to cause the air to pass out underneath the fan with its full force through the tube B. Power being applied to the pulley K by belting from any suitable motor, the fan J is rotated, which causes a vacuum in the tube A. At the same time the screws 13 B are caused to revolve by belt H. the grain being fed in at the hopper F or by the tube II, it is drawn by the vacuum and carried upward and forward by the screws until it has passed thefan J, when it is still carried forward by the screw B and the pressure of the air from the fan J to the desired or required place.

In the drawings, Fig. 1, I have shown a space between the shaft B. B just below the fan J; but it is evident that the shaft and screw may be continuous.

W'hat I claim as my invention is r 1. The combination of an upright flanged shaft 0, in combination with the flange, as ieg forth.

4. The hopper F, provided with the valve 7, in combination with the tube A and flanged shaft B C, as set forth.

5. The extension-pipe ll, provided with a valve, f, in combination with the propeller S, tube A, and purpose set forth. I

.Intestimony whereof I have signed my 113.117".

shai'twithin atube, A, with a horizontal flanged to this specification in the presence of two subshaft within a tube, A, the two shafts and tubes scribing witnesses.

being so constructed as to enable tlle upright shaft to be set at any angle with the horizontal shaft and tube, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of an upright and ahori- NAlI-IL. G. SIMOXDS. \Vitnesses:

.T. II..AD.\MS, 1i. PLANTA.

flanged shaft 13 C, as and for the 

